Hi Tweets,

Twenty-one of us enjoyed a spring morning at the refuge with sprinkles and
overcast skies. Abundant species included Tree Swallow, Rufus Hummingbird,
Savannah Sparrow, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Pipit, and
Yellow-rumped Warblers both Audubon and Myrtle variety.

At the visitor center we saw a mink, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Violet
Green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Hooded Merganser, Red-winged Blackbird, Common
Yellowthroat, Rufus Hummingbird, Canada Goose, Wood Duck and American Robin.

The water retention ponds next to the access road provided good scoping of
Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal,
Mallard, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Savannah Sparrow and American
Pipit. The flooded fields east of the access road and south of the Twin
Barns allowed us to ratchet up our list with good views of Ringed-neck Duck,
Cinnamon Teal, Canada and Cackling Geese. We also saw 11 Greater
White-fronted Geese, ten were Tundra and one was large and dark consistent
with the Taiga subspecies. A Peregrine Falcon flew over the fields and
landed in the large cottonwood next the Twin Barns with eagle nest currently
leased to a pair of Canada geese. This was the first of many sightings of
the Peregrine, which seems to perch regularly in this tree.

Along the east boardwalk we saw Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Canada Goose
with goslings on the nest, Pileated Woodpecker, American Robin in nest,
Marsh Wren, Rufus Hummingbird in nest and in a different location a male
displaying ?J? flight pattern with territorial announcing song ?dit, dit,
didoo
?

At the Twin Barns overlook we saw Tree Swallows everywhere, American
Bittern, Lincoln Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrow. We had additional good
looks at previously listed waterfowl and the Peregrine Falcon. The
Nisqually River overlook was quiet. Uli spotted a Belted Kingfisher, Common
Merganser and forty plus Common Goldeneye were seen down river with our
scopes.

The newly constructed riparian area just north of the new dike was infested
(50 plus) with American Pipits foraging the brown mulch. The Nisqually
River flooded pond beyond had 50 plus Gadwall with Green-winged Teal,
Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, and Mallard mixed in. A pair of Bald Eagle
were perched in a fir tree along the old dike footprint. To the inside of
the new dike were White-crowned, Golden-crowned and Savannah Sparrows.
Thanks to the heads up from Jeff Cohen, we had fabulous looks without
binoculars at two or three low flying Vaux?s Swifts mixed in with the Tree
and Violet Green Swallows.

The flooded fields on the inside of the new dike had lots of waterfowl. New
species for the day included American Coot and Greater Scaup. Plenty of
shorebirds too with approximately 10 Greater Yellowlegs, 5 Least Sandpipers,
20 Dunlin and 10 Western Sandpiper
did I get that right Ruth? Sorry Sherpa
Shep was slow with the scope! (Try saying that 3 times fast). We also had
Killdeer and Matt pointed out a Long-billed Dowitcher in nonbreeding plumage
preening for a total of 6 species of shorebirds!

David Sperry reported two Ruddy Duck on the large pond to the northeast of
the new dike. In the closer cattails, this has been a recent good spot to
find one or two American Bitterns performing breeding or territorial
behaviors, which we observed again. Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
were seen as well.

On the boardwalk on the way back, along the old Nisqually River dike, the
woods were dripping with Yellow-rumped Warblers ? both varieties. We worked
hard to find other species of birds, like Brown Creeper/Orange Crowned
Warbler/Chestnut-backed Chickadee, but we didn?t see them and almost
everything that we looked at was a butterbut. At one point we counted 8
Yellow-rumped Warblers sitting on the boardwalk at one time. One of the
Rufus Hummingbird nests had 3 chicks being fed. We also had Downy
Woodpecker and Spotted Towhee. We had wonderful looks at the Great Blue
Heron hunting fish at the riparian overlook.

To end the walk, Matt and I had one final observation at the visitor center
pond overlook, and had terrific viewing of a Northern Rough-winged Swallow
feeding just above the water. 62 Species for the day with 2-3 new species
for the year (Vaux?s Swift, Long-billed Dowitcher, Northern Rough-winged).
Lots to see!

Good birding,

Shep Thorp
Browns Point
sthorp at theaec.com <mailto:sthorp at theaec.com>
253-370-3742